Wasteless skein



Patented Get. 2, 1923.

tinrraneraras HANS F HOFER, 0F NAGOYA, JAPAN.

WASTELESS SKEIN.

Application filed May 28, 1922.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that HANS Fnnonnron Hornn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fuso Seishi Kabushiki Kaisha, Nishiharu, outskirt of Nagoya City, Aichi-Pre fecture. Japan, has inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in IVastelessSkeins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to skeins of thread and more particularly to skeins of silk, and the primary object of the invention is to remedy the generally recognized. fault in the ending-up of a silk skein.

Prior to the present invention the begin ning and end of the thread of the skein were tiedtogether either on to one of the lace bands in the skein or onto a separate endingup band. .Vith skeins finished in this manner, close observation during the work of unwinding the silk from the skein onto spools discloses that due to the absence of a clear indication as to the unwinding direction of the skein, the unwinding operator is apt or liable to mount the skein on to the swift with the unwinding direction of the thread opposite to the correct unwinding direction. Such mistake, usually, is noticed by the operator only upon being unable to perform the uninterrupted winding off of the silk from the skein. When finally the mistake has been recognized the swift removed from the winding machine and replaced in proper unwinding direction, the condition of the skein, that is, the natural position of the thread within the skein has become disturbedto such an extent as to render the subsequent unwinding operation difficult, causing direct and indirect loss of time and material. The same close observation dur ing the work of unwinding the silkfrom the skeins onto spools shows that due to the absence of a clear indication with regard to the leading end and trailing end of the thread of the skein, the unwinding-operator is liable to attach the leading or beginning end of the thread onto the bobbin or spool instead of the trailing or terminal end of the thread of the skein, thus startingthe unwinding of the skein from the inside instead of from the outside part of the skein. Under such circumstances, it is possible for a certain length of time, to draw off the thread from the skein when so starting in reverse order, but it is merely a matter of time when the thread must become broken off. By that Serial No. 563,986.

time, the natural condition of the skein, that is the natural position of the thread within the skein has become deranged to such an extent as to again cause unavoidable loss of time to the operator and loss of material, the same as in the case previously cited. The defect in either case, is not limiated to the damage mentioned, but the subsequent-news sity of knotting the brokenends together automatically causes a deterioration of the quality of the material itself, every knot being equivalent to an imperfection. Therefore, as before stated, it is the primary purpose of the present invention toeliminate the faults of the old method and this is accomplished generally in the following manner: To the terminal or trailing end of the silk thread of the. skein I attach an identifying device, such as a heavy, colored cotton or spun silk thread about twelve inches in length and plainly contrasting in color from the color of the silk, such heavy color thread practically forming the end of the skein. That ending-up-thread or identification device is, an el'ongationof the skein, carried along the center of the skein for a distance of about four inches, once loosely swung or looped around the skein and once more carried-along the center outer surface of the skein for a distance of approximately three inches and is there fastened onto the skein by passing the loose end of the identification thread about a small bundle formed from the thread of the skein. It is obvious that the starting or leading end of the thread of means whereby the operator may be sure that he has placed the skein on the swift in the same position which it occupied on the large reel on which the skein is originally wound. To accomplish this, I have provided special lacing-bands preferably formed in contrastin colors so that after the lacing-band is p aced in position, the operator by noting this band will recognize the position which the skein occupied on the large reel and may then place the skein on the swift in the same relative position. 7

The two features set. forth generally above reduce the waste of the thread and time to a minimum, as the trailing or terminal end of the thread of the skein may be readily grasped without searching for the; same, and the skein may be placed on. the swift in such. manner that it may be readily unwound.v

l/Vith the foregoing objects outlined and.

with other obj ects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the inv ntion consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated; in; the 216C011};- panying drawings and more particularly pointed out in: the appended claims.

Referring to. the drawings:

Figure l is. a perspective view. of: a. silk skein: having the features. provided by the presentv invention. 7

Fig.- 2'is:a perspectiveview of a. silk skein amzangedi onra swift said: skein. being laced with a hand dyed at? it'smiddle portion, and the outer end ofthe thread. being. provided withianz identifying string or: the like.

Fig, 3: illustrates sideviewsof one of% the lacing-bands, in. one view thelace is-shown llli the position. which. it: occupiesin the skein while in: the other view the lace is: shown before itsapplication. to the skein.

Figs. 4 and: 5 illustrate diagrammatically the manner of. unwinding the skein onto spools: which in; Fi n. t are arranged: above theswifts, while inaFig. 5 they are below the Swifts;

In thedrawing, a1 designates agskeinitothe trailing or terminal end of. which. an identifying device: Z) is secured; as shown. at c.

' llhis. string; which is different: front the thread: ofst'heskein, either in size, quality or color has one of its ends. secured to the terminal; end: of the thread of the skein. After the identifying thread. is: tied to. the terminal: end; of? the thread of' the skein, it is extended-:along the: outer surface of the skein for a distance of about four inches, theniit is looped around: the skein: and once more carried: along. the outer surface of the skein: for about three inches. The free end of the identifying thread. isthen, loosely: tied to a bundle formed by the" thread of the skein as shown at d. If desired the leading endiof the thread of the skein-may also be seoured'to the identifying; thread at the por tion cl.

This-identifying. thread is' preferably of adilferent color' from the thread of the skein and now-actsin doublecapacity, Itclearly indicates: the unwinding" direction of the skein andjust asclear'ly indicates the proper,

. unmistakabl'e ending of: the skein, which as far: as the unwinding operation isconcerned is now-thebeginning of theskein; The part of the identifying thread which is passed arounda bundleformed from the thread of the skein as at D will indicate to the operator that the thread of the skein to be properly unwound must. be pulled in thedirectio n of the=part d'and away from-the knot' 0.

As before stated, the present invention also includes improvements in the lacing of the silk skein. Heretofore the skein was laced while still onzthe-large reel used in the making of the skein, with a lace-band made of cotton or Silk. This band was usually of the same color as the thread of the skein and after the lace was applied and the skein'removed from the reel there was no means of advising the: operator as to the proper manner in which the skein' should be placed on the swift. Further,- even ifthe SkGlIllSkIGglls larly laid on. the swift, it iszby. noimeansan easy matter to ascertain the correct position of the swift itself relatively to the winding machine, as the skein. heretofore has not been provided with any distinguishable indioas tion. to advise the operator as't-othe proper positionuof the-skein on the swift or. ot the swift. on: the winding machine. It. is. Well known that the swift is normally revolved by the. tension. of-the thread? itself which: is being wound upon; aspool. or bobbin, and: the swift turns in 01132 direction only; There? fore it is very disadvantageousif the=skein is not properly; placed; on. the swift; or the swift not properly placed? on the Winding machine;

These inconveniences .are entirely removed by the present invention, ins which the lacing-bands g are dyed at their: middle portions as. shown; at f and: then: the band is folded intermediate itsends as shown: at Fig; 3. Each band is placed-through the skein on the large reel from left to right so that the skein at its lacingupontions has at the op.- posite sides-of itsmedian line alace of con trasting-colors, as: shown in Figs. 2 and 3; The lace-band, as i'llustratedi has a colored portion: 7 at theleft and a plain portionle at its-right; when: winding: according to Fig; 5' and vice versa' when winding according to Fig. 45-, and when lacingbands of this character are employed, the skein for the purpose of'the-nnwihding operation may be placed upon a swiftin the same relative position which it occupied upon the large reel; that is the colored portion fwill lieon-the left hand side of the: swift while the plain portion will-beat the right side of the'swift when winding-according t0 Fig- 5' and vice versa when'winding according-toF ig; l;

As illustratedin- Figure 4L the skein (a at the right hand must be placed onthe swift h and; the-end d o'ftlie identifying thread has notified the operator that thethread Of-theskeinmust be pulledupwardly -inor With the use of the present invention, the unwinding-operator is no longer liable to the mistake of mounting the skein on the swift in opposite direction from the proper unwinding-direction and is no longer subjected t mistaking the beginning or leadng end of the thread of the skein with the trailing or terminal end of the thread of the skein.

In order to render the device effective to the full extent, the winding-operator, after having placed the skein on the swift, and removing the lace or tie-bands, will take hold of the identification thread or endfinder at the point where it is looped around the skein, slightly and carefully pulling it somewhat away from the skein and following it up t the point where it is attached to the real end of the silk thread, breaks off, that is, separates the identification thread from the silk thread and fastens the end of the latter onto the bobbin or spool, without loss of time or loss of material and without having in the least disturbed the natural condition of the skein that is, the position of the thread Within the skein. 77

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and advantages of the invention may be readily understood, and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the construction disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

I claim:

1. A skein of thread having its terminal end provided with an identifying means of different appearance from the thread of the skein to enable a person to grasp the terminal end of the thread of the skein without searching for the latter.

2. A skein of thread provided at its terminal end with a string readily distinguishable from the thread of the skein.

3. A silk skein having its end secured to one end of a string having contrasting characteristics from the thread of the skein, the other end of said string being tied to the skein in such manner that the string may be readily withdrawn.

4. A skein ofthread provided with a band laced through the same, said lace-band being of such construction that the portion of the same on one side of the median line of the skein has a different appearance from the a portion of the lace-band on the opposite side of said median line.

5. A silk skein provided with a band laced through the same, the middle portion of said band having a different appearance from the remaining portions of the band, ang said band being folded intermediate its en s.

6. A method of finishing skeins of thread consisting in tying one end of an identifying string to the terminal end of the thread of the skein, then looping the string around the skein and tying string to the thread of the skein.

7. A method of finishing skeins of thread consisting in treating a lacing-band to provide the same with contrasting portions, folding the band intermediate its ends, and lacing said band through said skein.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature s.

HANS F. HOFER.

the free end of said 

